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Three seconds to success
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May 29, 1997: 6:54 p.m. ET
Consultant says first impressions can make a key difference
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Eye contact, appearance and poise are crucial ingredients for success in business today, said a top communications consultant.
Camille Lavington, author of "You've Only Got Three Seconds," said a C.E.O. will make irrevocable judgments about a person even before they shake hands.
"You can read somebody's attitude - it's either a pleasant attitude or it's a negative one and you can spot that in their body language, their eye contact and the way they march in," Lavington said on CNNfn's "Business Unusual."
Lavington, whose clients include executives from Fortune 500 companies such as IBM, said the best thing to do in a tough job interview is to find out how much time you have and let the other person talk.
"You can pace yourself if you know how much time is involved," Lavington said. "If you can get the other person to talk, you can play your cards better."
Impression-makers such as direct eye contact and being good grooming are vital. A person's shoes - and even his fingernails - can make the difference.
"If you don't take care of your shoes, that's a good sign that you don't take care of your business," Lavington said.
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